The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-04-19
INTERSTATE COMMERCE,
Some Important Decisions Mndc by tho
CommissIon.

SUNNI Important DeciSlons Mndc by tn,
Commission.
WASHINGTON, D. G., April lS.-The fol
lowing embodies by far the most irnpor
tant action yet taken by the Inter-Stst,
Commerce Commission. The immediate
matters aelected to which to append the
opinions OF the Commission only al1ecI
the interests OF limited claesee, but tn,
opinions themselves cover in important
respecta interpretations OF the Interstate
Commerce law and determinations re
specting the extent Of the powers with
which tho Commission deems itsel,
charged, and as is proved by the imnlenee
correspondence Of the Commission sre n,
interest to almost every branch OF trade n,
commerce in the land.
Tho following is the text of the ruling
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission
In the matter oil tho petition OF the or.
der OF rsilroad conductors, in tho matte,
Of tho petition OF the Traders and Travel.
ers' Union, An application in writing haa
been made to tho Commission for its ans.
wer to the following questions propouud.
ed on behalf Of the order Of railway con.
ductors:
First-Are railway companies prohibit.
cd from issuing iree transportation to tho
immediate families OF employees OF their
own railways?
Second-Are railway companies probib.
tied from iesaing free or reduced transpor.
tation to officers Of the associations com.
posed exclusively Of railway employees
while those officers arc Temporarily ont al
railway service, and exclusively emp!oyed
by thcsa associations2
Third-May railway companies icaue
free passes to their employee OF other
railways on application Of the employe.
or mnet such application come from the
officer OF the company by which he is en-.
ployed?
Fourth-May railway companies ipsro
Tree or reduced transportation to those
who make railway service their businces
or trado while temporarily out OF employ
ment and in search Of situation?
Fiith-Alay railway compsuies provide
free transportation for delegates to annual
conventions OF an association composed
exclusively OF railway employees rpon
certificates from the officers OF the associs.
ton that they are such representatives?
Slxth-lt free transportation NAV be
furnished to tho representatives described
in question fifth, must all such represen.
tatlve8 be actually in the employ OF some
railrosd, or may it include those who NAV
be Temporarily out OF employment and
titosc temporarily eugssed in other em.
ployment as officers OF such associaton?
scyen;h-lf free transportation is pro.
vided for the delegates described In ones.
ton fifth, may it include membe,s of the
fainilies OF delegates.
Ii free transportation or reduced rates
arc promised for the representatives ui
any one association, must tho Same be
extended to all Others which are composed
exclusively OF railroad employees, on appli.
cationf
Another application has been made to
the Commission on behalf OF the Traders
Union, stating that the system under
which an additional allowance of fres
baggage haa been heretofore carried BY
commercial tourists subject TO written
agreement for registry and identification,
which syStcm the Commiaeion ia request.
cd TO examine carefully land advise us il
there is any reason why railroad comps.
ny desiring 10 do SO should not enter into
such an arrangement 10 grant, under STA.
tod ternB, an increased allowance Of FREQ
baggage
These two petitions presented by highly
respectable organizations and hsyin,,
qrestions OF immediate practical import.
anco are representative o! LARGE numbor
OF similar applica.3Hs which have bean
made to tho Commission Tor It's constrnc.
ton oi tho provisions OF thu act to regulate
commeIco Us applied to The ya,ioun nointo
m which these provisions touch tho cus.
toma OF the past. They lave been select.
ca, e'mply no thcy indicate tho rcneral
character OF s|l and enable tho commits.
SIIh s.S.I W !. announce certain conclusionG to
diclion mud ito powers. 10
A careful reading OF tho 'act 10 rcvu
late" under which this Commission wa,